Leotards and costumes



March 6, 1962 M. z. STRAHLE LEOTARDS AND COSTUMES Filed NOV. 12, 1959 l/VWS/BLE FLAPOPEA/ING INVENTOR. M4245 Z. 5724/ /46 nited statesPat C I Filed Nov. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 852,385 1 Claim. (Cl. 2-78) This invention relates to leotards, and it particularly relates to leotards which permit a change of undergarments without disrobing completely.

Leotards, as is well known, are dancing costumes generally worn by dancers, dancing teachers and dance students. Often, especially in the ease of teachers and professional dancers, it is necessary to wear a leotard through many hours of great activity. As a result, it is often desirable to be able to change undergarments and otherwise freshen up during temporary pauses in the routine. However, these pauses are usually not sufficiently great to permit a complete disrobing and change of clothes, so that the wearer is often quite uncomfortable by the end of the work day.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned difiiculties by providing a leotard which permits easy and rapid change of undergarments whenever desired without the necessity of completely removing the leotard.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a leotard of the aforesaid type which is provided with an opening adapted to be completely concealed when closed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a leotard of the aforesaid type which is simple in construction and neat in appearance.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved leotard, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly eflicient in use.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dancer wearing a leotard embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the vent portion of the leotard of FIG. 1, with the flap partly raised.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified form of vent portion, with the parts in open position.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of another modification of the invention.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a dancer wearing a leotard or dancing costume 12 embodying the present invention, this invention being particularly related to the crotch 14.

The crotch 14 is split by a slit, the edges of which are defined by the complementary teeth 18 and 20 of a zipper 2-2. At the rear and extending up beyond the teeth 20 is a tab 24 while at the front and overlapping the teeth 18 is provided a flap 26.

The fiap 26 is provided on its inner surface adjacent each end with a hook 28 adapted to be releasably engaged with a corresponding eyelet 30 below the teeth 20. By engagement of hooks 28 and eyelets 30, the flap 26 is securely retained in place to overlap and conceal the zipper 22.

In FIG. 3 is shown a modified form of garment wherein the crotch 50 is split at 52 but instead of a zipper there 3,023,419 Patented .Man 6, 1962 ice are provided a series of hooks 54 on the inner surface of the flap 56, these hooks 54 being releasably engageable with corresponding hook-eyelets 58. The eyelets 58 are spaced below the edge of the split crotch so that a tab portion is formed at 60 similarly to tab 24 in FIG. 2.

At opposite ends of the flap 56, on the inner surface thereof, are provided hooks 62, offset from hooks 54, which correspond to hooks 28 in FIG. 2 and which are adapted to be releasably engaged with corresponding eyelets 64.

In FIG. 4, the crotch is split at 82 and is provided with a flap 84 wherein, instead of hooks or zipper teeth, there is provided a series of male snap fastener portions 86 on the inner surface of the flap 84. At each side of series of snap portions 86 is provided a hook 88 similar to hooks 62 and 28. These hooks 88 are adapted to releasably engage corresponding eyelets 90.

The eyelets 90 are positioned on either side of a series of female snap fastener portions 92. These snap portions 92 are spaced below the corresponding edge to form a tab portion 94 similar to that shown at 60.

In use, when it is desired to remove any undergarments or otherwise release the bottom of the leotard 12, it is merely necessary to unzip the zipper 22 or unhook the hooks 54 or unsnap the snaps 86 and 92, as the case may be. Of course, the hooks 28, 62 or 88 must first be disengaged. When it is desired to close the leotard, it is merely necessary to reverse the above procedure.

It is to be fully understood that the leotard of the present invention includes leotard foundations fabricated of many different types of material, in fact any material that can be sewed.

A short skirt or a long skirt may be added to said foundations, or decorative material added, such as petals or the like, in order to create a particular costume.

In the past, such leotard foundations have not been provided with flap openings, and an important feature of the present invention relies on the provision of the flap opening to all such costume leotards fabricated of any suitable material and provided with any and all types of accessories, appurtenances and decorations, as desired.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

A leotard dancing costume comprising a unitary body portion having a neck opening, arm openings and leg openings, said leg openings defining a relatively narrow crotch area therebet-ween, said crotch area comprising a pair of mutually overlapping substantially straight-edged right angular cornered tabs, two primary complementary releasable fastening means for said overlapping tabs, one

of said primary fastening means being located on the outer face of the underlying tab, the other said primary complementary fastening means being located on the inner face of the overlying tab, both said primary complementary fastening means being spaced from the straight edges of their respective tabs, and two supplementary complementary fastening means on said juxtaposed faces of said tabs at both corner ends of said overlying tab, one said supplementary fastening means being on said overlying tab and located closer to each straight edge corner than said primary fastening means thereon, said supplementary fastening means on said underlying tab being located further from the straight edge of said underlying References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,260,426 Bailey Oct. 28, 1941 2,453,063 Cohen Nov. 2, 1948 2,463,309 Prince Mar. 1, 1949 2,857,600 Finn Oct. 28, 1958 

